Robert Bryden, industrial engineer, dies at 79

Posted
Thursday, August 8, 2013 1:43 pm

Robert Edward Bryden

Robert Edward Bryden passed away on Saturday July 20, in Christ Hospital, Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 79-years-old.

Born and raised in Riverdale, Mr. Bryden attended Xavier High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Manhattan College. In 1963, he completed a master’s in Industrial Engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.

Mr. Bryden work-ed as an industrial engineer for pharmaceutical companies most of his life. Before retiring in 2004 he was a driver for Barney Limousine in Kearny, NJ, where resided for the past quarter century.

Besides devoting his free time to his family and friends, Mr. Bryden was an avid golfer.

A wake was held on July 23 and 24 at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home. Funeral mass was held July 24 at St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny, N.J. Mr. Bryden was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, N.J.

His parents, Thomas and Winfried Bryden –formerly O’Neil – who were lifelong Riverdale residents, preceded Mr. Bryden. His son James also preceded him.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Ellen, and three sons, Robert Jr., Joseph and Peter and his very loving sister Mary Bryden, a lifelong resident of Riverdale. He also leaves behind grandchildren Reanna, Grant and Tommy Mongno, great-grandchildren Jaelynn and Brianna, his daughter-in-law Noriko, mother-in-law Irene Seremba, sisters-in-law Margaret Seremba and Seton Brown and brother-in-law Tom, along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Have a look up the narrow pathway connecting Arlington Avenue and Kappock Street in Spuyten Duyvil and one might see a steep trail of hideous, uneven pavement snaking between warped side rails bent out of shape. It’s like something out of a Gothic fairy tale.